RADFORD – Entrepreneurial-minded students at Radford University will be receiving lessons from one of the nation’s largest financial holding companies when SunTrust donates 100 textbooks for use in two RU College of Business and Economics (COBE) courses.

As part of a public/private partnership with RU, and in keeping with its new “back to basics” theme, SunTrust will provide the business plan book “Business Owner’s Playbook” for two COBE management courses: “Owning and Managing a Business” and “Managing New Venture Creation.” The textbooks are valued at approximately $100 each.

“We are extremely excited about this academic and corporate materials partnership between RU and SunTrust,” said Faye Gilbert, dean of COBE. “SunTrust is influencing the next generation of entrepreneurs by sharing material developed for the organization with RU students interested in entrepreneurship.”

The text covers content for the two management courses and will be accompanied by guest lectures from SunTrust executives.

“SunTrust values its longstanding relationship with Radford University,” said Ed Lawhorn, president of the New River Valley SunTrust Bank. “We are proud to continue our partnership and support of RU academics, and to invest in the education of future entrepreneurs.”

In October, SunTrust co-hosted the university’s second annual Entrepreneurial Summit with COBE and RU Collegiate Entrepreneurs. The summit was designed to provide RU students the ability to learn from successful executives and entrepreneurs. The SunTrust Distinguished Speaker Series was held during the summit, with Brian Patrick Cork, a 1984 RU graduate who was recently named among 2008 Catalyst Top 25 Entrepreneurs in Atlanta, serving as the keynote speaker.

SunTrust also helped sponsor a scholarship and cash prize for the top four RU students placing in the Elevator Pitch Competition, which was held during the Entrepreneurial Summit events. During the competition, students presented a 90-second pitch to a panel of successful entrepreneurs.

(IN THE PHOTO: Nicholas Morgan, the winner of the 2008 Elevator Pitch Competition.)

To learn more about Radford University’s College of Business and Economics, visit http://cobe-web.asp.radford.edu/.